The future returns! And this time it’s out for blood! Not really! (Actually, I don’t think that even makes sense?)

I’ll soon be bringing the listenerd back in a brand-new format. The new ‘nerd consist of all the nonsense anyone who still checks in here came to love oh-so-many years ago, but lovingly wrapped in a 3x-per-week newsletter that’s INCREDIBLY easy to delete.

So that’s the idea: The excitement and inspiration of the world’s greatest ideas, PLUS the impermanence of a city painted in sand.

4) Travis McHenry’s Coffee and the Newspaper – You have to give me this one. Please. I think one could create an algorithm that correlated images based primarily on color scheme, then it could match EVERYONE’S Facebook profile with a picture of food. (I don’t know why that would be valuable.) Anyway. On the other hand, maybe one could also upload a picture of a meal and get outfit suggestions? Trust me. Potential.

I started a tumblr awhile ago called Screenshots of Despair. It was inspired by serendipitous sightings of ennui-inducing automated social media messages, along with Rob Walker’s Gallery of Default Anonymity. After a couple dozen pics had been gathered, Rob (feels weird to use his first name; we’ve never met) wrote up an excellent analysis/explanation of the mini-project for Design Observer.

Since mid-last week, thousands of people have started following the tumblr, many more have come to the site or tweeted about it and it’s gotten shout-outs from a ton of people and media outlets I respect. (Also, I’ve had to think a lot more critically about ennui, the modern human condition, and the interface of man and machine??)

Consider this a thanks to Rob for nudging this idea into being, as well as a shout out for examples of this idea captured in the wild.